RA SYUNIK MARZ 249 RA SYUNIK MARZ Marz centre –Kapan town Territory 4506 square km Agricultural land 187792 ha including arable land 46757 ha Urban communities 7 Rural communities 105 Rural settlements 127 Population as of January 1, 2003 152.8 ths. persons including urban 103.9 ths. persons rural 48.9 ths. persons RA Syunik marz occupies 15% of the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The population of the marz comprised 4.8% of RA total population in 2002. It includes 7 towns and 127 rural settlements, the urban population comprised 68.0%. It is a richest marz of the republic with useful minerals. Marz borders with Iran (the length of border is 42 km), Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic. Syunik marz is situated in the south of the Republic of Armenia and covers 6 regions (Baghk, Dzork, Kovsakan, Tsghuk, Haband and Arevik) of one time 12 provinces of the most powerful Syunik (Sisakan) State of historical Mets Hayk. Now that territory is corresponding to Kapan, Goris, Sisian and Meghri regions territory. Baghaberd and Vorotnaberd, Halidzor castle, Tatev and Vorotna monasteries are famous. Natural monuments are “towers” and grottos of Goris, Khndzoresk, waterfall of Shaki, passes of Vorotan and Voghji, “Satana bridge”. The biggest world sycamore relict park is situated in the Tsav river pass at the south of Kapan town that occupies 60 ha territory (trees age is numbered by centuries). Some trees’ s diameter of this exceptional park reaches 3 m and the height is 40-45 m. One of the historical Synik spiritual and cultural centre Vahanavank (X century) is situated in the heart of the forest on the right bank of Voghji river in 4 km distance from the town, and the picturesque Shikahogh state preservation with narrow passes, hearth forests- in 25 km distance. Marzes of the Republic of Armenia in Figures, 1998-2002 251 There are a lot of mineral sources in the Voghji river’s pass covered with forest. Baghaberd ancient castle (IV century) remained standing on the pass’s bank. The environs of Qajaran town is rich with sweet mineral sources. Meghri river begins from Kapuyt lake situated at the height of 3250 m above sea level and Kaputjugh river – from melt water of Kaputjugh mountain (3905 m) that interlacing with Qajarants river forms Voghji river. Tatev hydro-electric station, i.e. the firstling of Vorotan hydro-electric stations cascade and Shamb reservoir are situated in the Vorotan pass, from where a water by tunnel with a length of 18 km reaches to turbines of Tatev hydro-electric station. Shaki waterfall, the biggest waterfall (18 m) of Small Caucasus mountains is situated in 6 km distance from Sisian. Vorotnavanq, one interesting creation of architecture of X-XII centuries is situated in the Vaghatni, and the peculiar crypt monument of XII century – in the Aghitu. Khoshum Dash tomb- hill of Neolithic era that is a dwelling of primitive man is situated in the environs of the Sisian town. The centre of Syunik prince’s sitting in the initial period was Shaghat village-town of Tsghuk province, in IX century – Eghegis village-town of Vayots dzor, Kapan town – from mid of X century. Israel Ori, the representative of Syunik princely dynasty played a key role in the Armenians liberating struggle against yoke of Persian aggressors in the XVIII century, who presented the country’s liberation idea besides all-Armenian circles in European and Russian palaces as well. Headed by David Bek the “Syunyats world” got freedom from the yoke of Moslem power in 1720 (David Bek’ s army routed enemy’s forces in the Halidzor fight in 1727). At the end of XIX century provinces situated in the east of Syunyats mountaines were included into the Elizavetpol state and on 31 August 1921 Kapan, Goris, Sisian and Meghri provinces formed Zangezur province with Goris centre. Instead of former provinces 4 administrative districts were formed in 1930 and the region had big economic and cultural progress. RA Syunik marz occupying strategic and geographic-political important position, having rich resources of natural raw materials, industrial big capacity and being one of the biggest administrative and economic regions of the republic, at the same time is remained as a one of not enough inhabited and economically developed marzes. Characteristic for the republic social and economic, demographic and other problems are showed in the marz by more underlined sharpness that are related to some particular factors: a big distance from the capital, lack of alternative modes of transport communication, frontier, mountainous, inhabited by refugees, a big number of not crowded and land-starved settlements (102 settlements or 75.5% of settlements), suffered economic demage as a result of Gharabagh conflict in 1991-1994, etc. The share of marz industry in total volume of republican industrial production comprised 8.6% in 2002, in volume of gross agricultural produce – 9.2%, in retail turnover – 1.0% and in total volume of services rendered to population – 1.6%. The main branches of marz industry are mining industry and production of electric energy. Marz is rich with mineral rocks. From those the most important are non-ferrous metals 252 Marzes of the Republic of Armenia in Figures, 1998-2002 (copper, molybdenum, zinc, lead) and the precious metals (gold, silver), as well as a number of non-metal useful minerals (construction and lining stones, basalt raw materials, limestone and burnt shale marble, granite resources). The prevailing part of electrical energy produced in the marz belongs to Vorotan hydro- electric station cascade. 56 industrial, 12 agriculture, hunting and forestry, 17 construction, 10 transport, 122 rendering services and 510 retail trade units, of which 208 stores, 275 kiosks, 21 public catering units, 3 agricultural products and 3 consumer goods markets functioned in the marz in 2002. 126 schools of general education, 16 music and art, 10 sport schools, 55 pre-school establishments, 8 state secondary specialized and 3 non-state education establishments, 2 branches of state higher education establishments, 3 museums, 152 libraries and 5 hotels, 33 out-patient polyclinics and 9 hospitals, cultural and enlightenment centers, etc. functioned in the marz as well. Kapan region Arable land 5040 ha Urban communities 2 Rural communities 38 Rural settlements 53 Population as of January 1, 2003 62.5 ths. persons including urban 54.0 ths. persons rural 8.5 ths. persons The share of Kapan region in total volume of industrial production of Syunik marz comprised 79.8% in 2002, in retail turnover – 56.9% and in volume of services rendered to population – 44.4%. 21 industrial, 5 agriculture, hunting and forestry, 10 construction, 3 transport, 42 rendering services and 190 retail trade units, of which 91 stores, 91 kiosks, 6 public catering units, 1 consumer goods and 1 agricultural produce markets functioned in the region in 2002. 46 schools of general education, 6 music and art and 4 sport schools, 3 secondary specialized and 1 higher education establishments, 25 pre-school establishments, 1 museum, 67 libraries and 4 hotels, 12 out-patient polyclinics and 5 hospitals, cultural and enlightenment centers of marz importance, etc. functioned in the region as well. Kapan town (45.6 ths. inhabitants) is situated at the foot of Khustup mountain (3201 m) and one of big industrial towns of the republic. The leading trend of economy is mining industry. Kapan’s cooper mines were famous so far in mid centuries. Since 1846 to soviet system cooper mines were exploited by private owners (French industrial and metallurgy companies). 18 industrial, 3 agriculture, hunting and forestry, 6 construction, 2 transport, 36 rendering services and 77 retail trade units, of which 66 stores, 6 public catering units, 1 consumer goods and 1 agricultural produce markets functioned in the town in 2002. 15 schools of general education, 5 music and art, 3 sport schools, 3 secondary specialized and 1 higher education establishments, 12 pre-school establishments, 1 museum, 17 libraries, 2 Marzes of the Republic of Armenia in Figures, 1998-2002 253 hotels, cultural and enlightenment centers of marz importance, etc. functioned in the town as well. Qajaran town (8.4 ths. inhabitants), centre of the republican non-ferrous metallurgy was formed in 1958, based on the exploitation of rare mine that is a powerful mine basis of cooper and molybdenum. 3 industrial, 1 agriculture, hunting and forestry, 3 construction, 5 rendering services to population and 10 retail trade units, stores functioned in the town in 2002. 5 schools of general education and 1 art, 1 sport schools, 4 pre-school establishments, 6 libraries, 1 hotel, cultural and enlightenment centers of marz importance, etc. functioned in the town as well. Goris region Arable land 16160 ha Urban communities 1 Rural communities 24 Rural settlements 27 Population as of January 1, 2003 44.2 ths. persons including urban 23.2 ths. persons rural 21.0 ths. persons The share of Goris region in total volume of industrial production of Syunik marz comprised 9.8% in 2002, in retail turnover – 22.7% and in total volume of services – 23.1%. 17 industrial, 1 agriculture, hunting and forestry, 3 construction, 2 transport, 32 rendering services and 71 retail trade units, of which 34 stores, 30 kiosks, 5 public catering units, 1 consumer goods and 1 agricultural produce markets functioned in the region in 2002. 31 schools of general education, 5 music and art, 2 sport schools, 3 secondary specialized and 1 higher state and 2 non state higher education establishments, 12 pre-school establishments, 1 museum, 26 libraries, 1 hotel, 9 out-patient polyclinics and 1 hospital, cultural and enlightenment centers of marz importance, etc. functioned in the region as well.